Though he understood no more than Sweet did, Lucky felt a tingle in his backbone. He could barely imagine a sensation more thrilling than the Great Howl, but if that was true of the Moon-Dog ritual, it was no wonder Alpha wanted to recall a little of it, even though he had no Wolf Pack to share with. Once again Lucky wondered what could have driven Alpha to leave his wolf-comrades and run with a Pack of feral mutts.

Of course, one of those feral mutts had almost drawn Lucky into Pack life himself. . . .

Lucky gazed at Sweet’s elegant head, raised to sniff the night air and perhaps to follow Alpha’s scent trail too.

“Sweet,” he said, “could you walk with me for a while?”

She turned her head and tilted an ear, studying him. “You mean, outside the camp?”

“Yes. I want to talk to you. Alone.”

Sweet tapped her tail thoughtfully on the earth. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea, Lucky. What would Alpha say if he knew?”

“From what you told me, he won’t be back for a long time.” Catching her doubtful expression, he pressed his advantage. “Do you have to do everything he says?”

Sweet tensed. “Certainly not. But he’s my Alpha and I respect him.”

“And he obviously respects you.” Cunning ploy, City Dog. “And trusts you. I need to talk to you, that’s all. And it’s hard to do that when the Pack is all around.”

Sighing, Sweet thought for a while, then gave a reluctant nod. “All right, Lucky. Just for a while, then.” She stood up on her long legs. “The lakeshore, I think. It’s a good place to talk.”

Lucky padded at her flank as she slipped silently between the trees. They soon came to the long silver line of the lake’s shore and heard the soft rush of its gentle waves on the pebbles. The Moon-Dog blazed a brilliant path across the water, making the skyful of stars look dim in contrast.

They paused at the water’s edge, letting waves tickle their forepaws. Suddenly tongue-tied, Lucky bent to lick at the wet fur between his claws, teasing out burrs with his teeth.

“What did you want to talk about?” asked Sweet, less impatiently than he expected. She cocked her ears, inclining her head to watch the rippling river of moonlight.

Lucky took a breath. “Was it really necessary? What you and Alpha did to Mulch?”

Sweet was silent for a moment; then she sighed and sat down on her haunches. “Yes. Yes, Lucky, it really was. In a Pack, things are sometimes necessary even when you don’t like doing them.”

“Didn’t you?” He hesitated, not wanting to sound insolent, but wanting very much to know. “Like it, I mean?”

“Of course not.” She was indignant now. “How could I enjoy something like that? It was my duty. I’m Alpha’s partner and I have to stand by him. I have to support him in all things, especially where Pack discipline is concerned. If we weren’t strong together, the Pack would fall apart.”